Century Votes To Bring Escambia County Code Enforcement Back To Town
January 27, 2009
The Town of Century has voted to enter into an agreement with Escambia County that will bring code enforcement back to the town for the first time in several years.
The council approved an agreement with Escambia County Code Enforcement at a Monday night meeting by a 3-0 vote. Council members Henry Hawkins and Gary Riley did not attend the meeting.
The agreement calls for Escambia County to provide code enforcement for both county and town ordinances within the city limits. The enforcement will be “proactive”, according to Sandra Slay, Escambia County’s code enforcement manager. The code officers will not respond to citizen complaints within the Town of Century; rather, the officers will seek out violators.
“There’s no more calling in on your neighbor,” Century Mayor Freddie McCall said, referring to Century’s previous attempts at code enforcement that had neighbors literally turning each other in.
“The first thing, we are going to do is go up Highway 29,” Slay told the council. She said her officers would spend one day, most likely Wednesday, each week in Century. “We are going to address every violation as we target an area.”
“I think you are going to have your hands full for a long time,” Council President Ann Brooks told Slay.
Slay told the council that her officers are able to work efficiently from their vehicles. They will be able to issue citations, record information and search property records with wirelessly connected laptops in the county trucks.
The average citation provides seven day for violator to rectify a problem like overgrown or debris-covered property. On a major violation, like a dilapidated building, the most time code enforcement can provide by law is 30 days.
“We can come back later and work with them,” Slay said. “We do have that flexibility.” She said the county will try to find an agency to assist those that cannot afford to resolve their code issue, or they will refer the violator to the mayor who will assist in finding them help.
The county’s code enforcement in Century will be funded out of a $50,000 Community Development Block Grant, and all fines collected will go to the county. There will be no direct cost to the town.
The agreement must now be approved by the Escambia County Commission before it is finalized.
Previously, Century ended an agreement with Escambia County to provide code enforcement in the town. Under that agreement, the county’s code enforcement officers worked Century and wrote citations that were turned over to the town for abatement. The services were provided by the county at no charge to Century.
The arrangement came under fire, with allegations that the county’s officers provided selective enforcement, citing some people but no others. That prompted the council to sever the relationship with Escambia Code Enforcement. Currently, there is no code enforcement at all in the town.
Pictured above: Dilapidated buildings such as this one along Highway 29 might become the target of code enforcement in Century. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Flomaton A Winner; Jay, Northview Fall On The B-ball Court
January 27, 2009
In Monday night high school basketball action, Flomaton added to their win column, but the night was not as kind to Northview and Jay.
In boy’s action, the Flomaton Hurricanes beat the Jay Royals in a close one, 76-71. In girl’s action, the ‘Canes also beat the Royals, 48-42.
The Escambia Charter school downed the Northview Chiefs, 72-59.
Escambia Charter 72, Northview 59
Escambia Charter jumped out to an early 24-8 lead by the end of the first period. Northview and EC were nearly point for point in the second, with EC pickup up 17 and NHS adding 16, making it 41-24 at the half. The Chiefs led the scoring in the third period, outscoring EC by a baker’s dozen. But Escambia Charter dominated the fourth period, for a 79-52 win over the Chiefs. Colton Sims led the Chiefs with 23 on the night.
NHS: Colton Sims 23; Jody Levins 8; Lance Bushaw 8; Aaron Bellamy 6; Jocqus Lett 3; Austin Arrington, LaDarion White Marshall and Wayne Marshall, 2; Dabney Langhorne 1.
Northview 8 16 25 10—59
Escambia Charter 24 17 12 19—72
Jay 76, Flomaton 71 (Boys)
FHS: Dee Brooks 20, Dominique Robinson 19, Odom 15, Da’Tavis Ellis 1, Shea Gibson 6, Austin Patterson 1.
JHS: Greg Nelson 37, Rush Hendricks 10, D. Walker 5, Dale Barlow 8, Steven Brabham 6, Hunter Boutwell 5, Jeff Fischer 3.
Flomaton 21 14 14 27—76
Jay 19 13 11 28—71
Flomaton 48, Jay 42 (Girls)
FHS: Paige Harwell 13, Lily Wright 11, Tara Gafford 11, Kaitlyn Hambrick 4, Allison Gafford 4, Brittany Mallet 3, April Cayson 2.
JHS: Joy Gandy 15, Becca Calloway 9, Amber Steadham 6, Danielle Skaggs 4, Tessa Hendricks 4, Ginger Jennings 2, Leely Trevino 2.
Flomaton 11 11 7 19—48
Jay 9 10 11 12 — 42
Two Local StudentsPerform In All-County Band
January 27, 2009
Two North Escambia students performed Tuesday night in the 2009 All-County Instrumental Gala tonight at Pensacola High School. Taylor Brook, an Ernest Ward Middle School student, played the trumpet in the All-County Middle School Band. And Briana Halteman, a student at Northview High School, plaed the flute in the school district’s All-County High School Band.
Taylor and Briana are the only North Escambia students in the All-County bands.
This is not an honor to be taken lightly. The All-County honors bands perform in the Instrumental Gala that is sponsored by the Florida Band Masters Association. Students are allowed to audition for a seat in the band. The students’ audition is judged by local band directors that sit with their backs to the student so that the students are graded solely by their talent, technique and tone. Each student is required to play a prepared piece of music, five major scales in under two minutes, a chromatic scale and sight-reading – where the students have to play a random piece of music placed in front of them.
Charles Tucker serves as band director for both Northview and Ernest Ward. He worked to prepare both young ladies for their performances tonight.
In September, Taylor received the music and scales that are required to play at the auditions. She practiced and learned the music and in November, before the Christmas Break, Taylor went to Jim C. Baily Middle School for tryouts. More than 20 students auditioned for the trumpet section of the Honors Band, but there were only 16 positions available. After waiting for two days, Taylor received notice that she had passed the auditions and was now a member of the Honors Band.
After the Christmas break, Taylor attended weekly practices at Jim C. Bailey and Ferry Pass Middle Schools. On Monday, she was in an all-day practice with the other students at Ransom Middle School. She practiced for a half day Tuesday, and then returned Tuesday night for the concert.
“I am excited that I made All-County Band since it is my senior year,,” said Briana, who current serves as the Northview Tribal Beat’s Drum Major.
The conductors this year were Robert W. Smith of Troy University, directing the Middle School Honors Band; Don Snowden of Pensacola Junior College, leading the High School Honors Band; and Andra Bohnet of The University of South Alabama, conducting the Honor orchestra
Taylor is the daughter of Matthew and Connie Brook of McDavid. Briana is the daughter of Lyndon and Norma Halteman of McDavid.
Pictured top: Ernest Ward Middle School student Taylor Brook. Pictured bottom: Northview student Briana Halteman.
County Renews Contract With Atmore Ambulance For 327 Exchange
January 27, 2009
The Escambia County has renewed a contract with Atmore Ambulance to provide emergency medical services for the portion of North Escambia in the 327 phone exchange.
Atmore Ambulance has been providing ambulance service for the Walnut Hill, Bratt, Davisville and surrounding communities in the 327 telephone exchange since 1978.
The county’s current contract with Atmore Ambulance expires on February 3. The contract was first executed in 2004 for a three year period, with an option to extend it for two one-year periods. The cost was $70,000 for the first year, $72,500 for the second year and $75,000 per year for the third, fourth and fifth years.
Under the terms of the contract, Atmore Ambulance directly bills patients for services rendered at an amount not greater than that billed by Escambia County EMS, which provides ambulance service for the rest of the county.
Atmore Ambulance will be paid $6,250 per month under the agreement. Renewal of the agreement was recommended by Public Safety Bureau Chief Michael Hardin.
Brickyard Rd. At Bamer Holley Closed
January 27, 2009
Brickyard Road at Bamer Holley Lane in Molino is scheduled to be closed until Thursday.
The Florida Highway Patrol says the road will was closed Monday to allow work on railroad crossing.
The area of Brickyard Road has very little traffic; it is dirt road along the railroad tracks between Molino Road and Rawhide Lane. There are just a few homes in the area.
Police Chase Ends With Crash (Updated With Names)
January 26, 2009
An early morning police chase by the Flomaton Police Department ended with a minor crash in Century.
Officer Kataris Jenkins with the Flomaton Police Department chased a 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier out of Flomaton into Century, crossing the state line on Old Flomaton Road about 12:15 this morning. The chase continued down Old Flomaton Road, crossing over Highway 4 onto Jefferson Avenue. The suspect and Jenkins’ unmarked patrol car collided on Jefferson Avenue just south of Pond Street. The suspect fled on foot and escaped.
The Florida Highway Patrol identified the passenger of the vehicle as Orlando Dixon, 21, of Century.
There were no injuries in the crash, and damage to both vehicles was reported to be minor. The damage estimate to the suspect’s car was $50, and damage was estimated at $250 to the patrol car.
Preliminary reports indicate that the chase began after the vehicle’s driver failed to stop in Flomaton when the officer initiated a routine traffic stop.
Escambia County deputies were responding to the area at the time the crash occurred, but were not involved in the pursuit.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol, which says an arrest is pending by the Flomaton Police Department.
Ernest Ward Cheerleaders Need Your Help To Get To National Finals
January 26, 2009
The Ernest Ward Middle School cheerleaders are headed to Orlando next month to compete for a national title, and they could use a little help from you.
The EWMS cheerleaders took first place in the Universal Cheerleaders Association West Florida Regional in November at Tate High School. That qualifies the girls to head to Orlando for the national championships February 5-9.
Ashley Salter, EWMS cheerleading sponsor, says that the girls still need about $1,500 to make the trip. The girls have completed several fund raisers, including a pecan pie sale and a volleyball tournament, raising about $5,000 so far.
If you would like to help the Ernest Ward Middle School cheerleaders make their trip to the national finals, you can drop your donations off at the Ernest Ward office.
For a “sneak peek” at the EWMS cheerleaders’ national finals routine, click here for a photo gallery from a recent practice.
Pictured above: (front row, L-R) Hannah Gibson, Katelynne Calloway, Madison Arrington, Reagan Bell, Paeton Hadley, Morgan Ward, Mariah Albritton, (back row) Lana Clayton, Raven Weaver, Ariel Holland, Ali Martin, Cheyenne Godwin, Angel Mitchell and Ashley Mooney. Pictured left: The EWMS cheerleaders at a recent pratice. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Nearly 140 Tons Collected So Far In ECUA Recycling Program
January 26, 2009
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority’s new recycling program has kept nearly 140 tons of residential waste out of the county’s landfill during the program’s first three weeks of operation.
During the first week of the program, 36.71 tons of recyclables were collected in the curbside program. In the second week, that number grew to 46.19 tons, and last week it increased to 55.37 tons.
The increasing numbers indicate to Larry Walker, ECUA District 5 member, that more customers are continuing to sign up for the recycling service and that ECUA is delivering recycling containers
Walker invites customers that may have experienced a missed pick up to contact him at larry@larrywalker.com or by phone at 723-6094.
For complete information on the recycling program and ECUA service, including how to sign up for service, click here (pdf).
This Week Your Last Chance For Property Tax Discount
January 26, 2009
This week is your last chance to save 2 percent on your property tax bill.
According to Janet Holley, Escambia County tax collector, the 2 percent discount to pay your real estate and tangible personal property taxes ends Saturday, January 31. Since the deadline falls during the weekend when the offices are closed, the Downtown, Marcus Pointe, Warrington, and Cantonment offices will honor the 2 percent discount Monday, February 2 for in-person payments only. The Century office is closed on Mondays and Fridays.
In addition, payments will receive the 2 percent discount if:
- mailed with a postmark of January 31
- left in a 24-hour drop box available at all offices by midnight January 31
- made on our web site by midnight January 31
- made on our after-hours automated telephone (800) 601-1055 by midnight January 31
Drive-thru service is available at all locations except Century.
You may check the status of your taxes and pay online at www.escambiataxcollector.com. You also may get automated information on TAX TALK at 438-3299. If you have any questions, please call the tax collector’s office at 438-6500, ext. 252. (TTY users for the hearing impaired call 850-472-0031.)
Rep. Evers Issues Statement On Jay Oil Field Shutdown
January 25, 2009
State Rep. Greg Evers has issued a statement following the announcement that Denver-based Quantum Resources, Inc. was shutting down production at the Jay Oil Field due to the economic downturn and a sharp decline in oil prices.
(Click here to read a Friday morning NorthEscambia.com story about the shutdown.)
Representative Greg Evers issued the following statement in response to Quantum’s announcements of this week:
I am deeply troubled and saddened by this week’s announcements of further downsizing and layoffs in Northwest Florida. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Quantum employees and their families whose lives have been adversely impacted by Quantum’s decision to stop production in Jay.
Hoping to get these employees back to work, create new jobs and reinvigorate future investment by Quantum and other such companies here in Northwest Florida, I filed House Bill 515 this week that, if passed, would provide economic incentives, including temporary oil and gas production tax relief, for small field producers such as Quantum.
I recognize that start-up production companies and those with smaller production capacities are the type of oil and gas companies that will be attracted to the fields of Northwest Florida. Such companies cannot be expected to compete with foreign and multi-national production giants in these economic times without some targeted incentives and tax relief. It is my hope that this small energy production investment incentive and tax relief package will help in creating and saving much-needed local Northwest Florida investment and jobs during these very challenging and difficult economic times.